People vs. Van Demps

Saugerties Post Star

Writer

Posted May. 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 10, 2012 at 10:16 AM

Posted May. 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 10, 2012 at 10:16 AM

Saugerties, NY

Van Demps, a 51 year old Kingston City resident, was convicted today by an Ulster County jury of forcibly stealing property from Walmart in the Town of Ulster on March 20, 2011, while acting in concert with another. Demps’ co-defendant, Daniel Kerwin, was previously convicted of robbery and sentenced to ten years in state prison.

The jury of seven women and five men found Mr. Demps guilty of Robbery in the Third Degree for the midnight theft of a 32” flat screen television, which Demps and his co-defendant sold for crack cocaine within an hour of the robbery.

Demps, who has a lengthy criminal history which includes seventeen convictions for crimes of larceny, weapons possession and drugs, did not testify at the trial, nor did he call any witnesses. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Mila Schutzman. Demps was represented by Kingston attorney Eric Schneider.